Shoe-lace fastener.



PATENTED NOV. 3, 19 03.-

W. H. ROTZ.

SHOE LACE FASTENER. APPLIGA'fION FILED JUNE 1,1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

WARREN H. ROTZ, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,106, dated November 3, 1903. Application filed June 1, 1903. Serial. No. 159,553. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, WARREN H. Born, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Readin g, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe -Lace Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in fastenings for the lacing-cords of shoes or other articles of wear.

The invention consists of an approximately oval plate having tongues formed thereon and a spring-piece secured to the top thereof.

The object of the invention is to securely hold the free ends of a shoe-lace in the form of a conventional bow-knot without tying them and to secure them from becoming accidentally free.

The invention is fully described in the following specification and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows my device with a lace secured therein. Fig. 2 shows a plan view, Fig. 3 an edge view, and Fig. 4a side view, of my device.

The body portion 1 is a plate, preferably of spring metal, of any desired shape, but preferably approximately oval in form, having two tongues 2 formed on its upper edge by cutting slots 3 into the body thereof. These tongues extend toward each other and are bent downward at their free ends 4 and out of the same plane of the bodyport-ion. The portion of the plate between the ends of the tongues forms a centrally-disposed lip 5, which is also bent downward at its end and out of the same plane of the body portion of the plate, and 7 designates a tongue or projection on the lip 5 near its upper end, which extends outward and away from the lip 5 to serve as an additional means for holding the string or lace in position. This tongue or projection is preferably formed by stamping the same out of the body of the lip5 and then bending said tongue forward. At the front of the plate in the center-that is, opposite the lip.5is secured a spring clip or plate 6. This clip is preferably riveted to the plate 1; but it may be secured thereto in any desired manner and is set in the form of a double curve, its free end extending slightly over the lip 5 of the plate, and this end is bent in the opposite direction from the bend in the end of said lip-that is, upward and away from the body of the plate-leaving a month between them for receiving the lace.

The free ends of the shoe-lace are drawn into the slots 3 and when drawn tightly into the slots they will bind against pulling out easily. The ends are then folded together, as shown in Fig. 1, and drawn under the spring-clip 6 and below the tongue or projection 7 on the lip 5, which will securely hold them against the plate 1 and prevent them from becoming disengaged, the appearance being that of a tied bow.

The simplicity of my device will commend it, and the ease with which it is applied, as well as the security derived, are essential and important features.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a body portion, tongues integral therewith and extending inwardly, toward each other and for:

minating near the central line of said plate,

the free ends thereof being bent downward and out of the plane of the plate, said tongues forming slots between their lower edges and the edge of the plate, and a spring-clip secured to the face of the plate and having its end adjacent the free ends of the tongues. 2. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a body portion and tongues integral therewith, said tongues extending toward each other to form slots between their loweredges and the upper edge of the plate, the free ends of the tongues being bent away from the plate and out of the same plane thereof, a'lip formed on the upper edge of the plate and standing between the ends of the tongues, said lip being also bent back and out of the same plane as the body portion, and a spring-clip secured to the plate, the free end thereof terminating adjacent the lip on the plate and having its extremity bent away from the lip to form a guide for the entrance of the lacing.-

3. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a plate, said plate having slots cut therein near its upper edge to form two integral tongues, said tongues extending inward and terminating short of each other at a point near the central line of the plate, the free ends of said 10 of the plate with its free end terminating adjacent and being bent slightly away from the projection on the lip.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN H. Ro'rz.

Witnesses:

ED. A. KELP, CAMERON E. STRAUSS. 

